Rusty start for Brazil Tight opener doesn't bother 'em By ROB LONGLEY -- Toronto Sun Wed, June 14, 2006

BERLIN -- It was the sentiment of choice on the streets and in the beer gardens and especially on the train raucously weaving its way to Olympic Stadium last night.

The World Cup may have been five steamy days and 13 matches old, but the unofficial opening ceremony was to take place when Brazil finally put boot to ball.

That view can now be shared by the handful of other serious contenders battling at the 12 stadiums across this soccer-mad country.

We have a tournament.

And they have a glimmer of hope.

Brazil hasn't lost, nor were they in any particular danger of doing so in yesterday's modest 1-0 win over a surprisingly tough Croatian side.

The defending champs expect to build with each game.

The form they showed last night, after all, will have to pick up the beat if the Brazilians intend to Samba along with their fans back in this same stadium after the final on July 9.

"The big challenge was not just that we were playing in our first game of this World Cup," a relieved but pleased Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said. "We have not played together much as a team. And we faced an adversary that was good and playing with a great deal of energy."

That energy was matched by the fans of both teams as the anticipation finally got to spill out into this magnificent old structure.

The stadium was indeed livelier than the official opener in Munich this past Friday as the Croatians -- in their distinctive red-checkered outfits -- matched the lyrical Brazilians and their vibrant green and gold.

To their credit, the Brazilians toppled one tournament record by winning for an eighth consecutive time. They haven't lost a tournament opener since 1934 either, even though they have a tendency to ease into things before they are at their best.

Last night's lone moment of expected brilliance came in the 43rd minute when Kaka delivered a quick-release strike from 30 yards out that easily soared through to the top right corner of the net.

By then, the demanding Brazilian fans -- who expect victory rather than anticipate it -- had taken to whistling in derision.

Prior to the game's lone goal, the fearsome foursome up front of Ronaldhino, Ronaldo, Adriano, Kaka -- otherwise known as the Magic Quartet -- were more smoke than flash.

It didn't help that the Croatians weren't merely in awe of sharing the same pitch as the champion. They were up for a challenge and tested Brazil goalkeeper Dida a number of times.

"We were expecting this kind of a match from a tough team," said Kaka, whose curling shot handcuffed Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa. "We suffered a bit, maybe. But I started well, getting a goal."

All is far from gloomy, of course, it's just that expectations are so high every time this team plays.

As they seek their ultimate stride, a luxury few teams can afford, the Brazilians can take comfort that their toughest Group F match likely is behind them.

As cute as the Socceroo story may be, Australia shouldn't be much of a match and Japan even less so.

Then there is Ronaldhino, who had the stadium buzz to attention whenever the ball wandered near him. When it gets on his foot, the sense is anything can happen.

The fact they couldn't put away Croatia will bother some. So will the fact that the shine may be off the great Ronaldo, who was substituted in the second half last night.

In the end, the Brazilians will ignore the talk of who is favoured and take to proving it themselves.

"We do not regard ourselves as favourites," Parreira said.

"We know the favourites have failed in many World Cups. We know that every game will be like a final."